Big Ten Expansion

[vinsanity]

Sorry, every *school* in the Big Ten has high academic standards. Every D-1 football team, including Notre Dame, takes what students they can to fill the football team.

I'm not sure I buy this in its entirety.

The first part is true, but the second I'm not sure about. I don't have a list/explanation of academic requirements by school/conference, but my understanding is in the SEC to qualify for your fourth year of football you only have to pass half of your classes.

ND is always near the top of graduation rates for athletes and football. The avg NCAA is 64%, ND Graduates 96% of it's football players, Florida graduated 69%, Bama was 64%, Texas was 49%, Ohio State was 62%, Michigan was 71% - the info is here.

And IF Missouri comes into the B-10, watch Pinkel establish a pipeline into Ohio, etc. along the lines of what he has in Texas. Pinkel is from that part of the world, he's not going to have trouble pulling quality FB players out of there in the event of a conference change.

I think he'll have more than a 'problem' than you think. For starters, Ohio State Football is practically the only respectable pro-team in Ohio. They live and die for their Buckeyes (I've got family in Columbus, trust me). Most highly recruited football players stay in the Big 10, and the ones on top usually go to Ohio State.

I don't follow football recruits, especially not Big 12 recruits the way I should, but I somehow doubt Pinkel gets to go down to Texas and take his pick of recruits. The #2 recruit is from Texas, and going to....surprise! Texas. Same with recruits ranked #13-15, Texas Texas and Baylor. Hell, #4 is from OH going to Texas. You have to get down past the top 30 of Texas recruits for 2010 to find one going to Missouri.

[Popeye_Card]

ND maintains high graduation rates, and for that they should be commended.

But it isn't like they recruit athletes because of their scholastic merit. Yes, there is a greater emphasis on graduating than most Big Ten schools, but it isn't like Notre Dame is that much tougher of school.

[vinsanity]

ND maintains high graduation rates, and for that they should be commended.

But it isn't like they recruit athletes because of their scholastic merit.

If it's not because of fairly rigorous academic standards/scholastic merit, what is it?

ND is usually very well regarded in most of their degrees across the country, so it's not like all athletes are taking elementary math class for 4 years.

[Popeye_Card]

The football players at Notre Dame likely aren't taking muc tougher classes than football players at Michigan--another university very highly regarded across the US.

The academic thing is used mostly as an excuse for Notre Dame. Notre Dame isn't turning many recruits down because they aren't smart enough. Recruits aren't turning down Notre Dame just because it is a tough school. If I'm a highly regarded athlete, I want to win, and I want to go to the NFL. Notre Dame in recent years isn't going to score many points for recruits in those areas. If I am a kid in Ohio, and I can choose between Ohio State and Notre Dame, the only thing that would bring me to Notre Dame is if I'm catholic, or that I think I'll get more playing time there.

[vinsanity]

The football players at Notre Dame likely aren't taking muc tougher classes than football players at Michigan--another university very highly regarded across the US.

Then why does ND graduate about 30% more students than Michigan? I'm not saying all ND Football players are smarter than Michigan or other schools, but they are doing something different than the Michigans, Florida's and Bama's of the world.

If I am a kid in Ohio, and I can choose between Ohio State and Notre Dame, the only thing that would bring me to Notre Dame is if I'm catholic, or that I think I'll get more playing time there.

Like Brady Quinn? Or Claussen the #1 overall recruit a few years ago (granted Cali)? With Wies, he was a pro-style coach with a pro-style system that got plenty of kids in to the NFL. I'm not sure how Kelley will fair (how have his recent grads done in the draft?), but there are plenty of reasons to go to ND other than being Catholic.

[lukethedrifter]

I'm very anti Notre Dame and I think Popeye is underestimating ND. There standards aren't head and shoulders above Michigan but I believe the floor is higher.

[thrill]

I'm very anti Notre Dame and I think Popeye is underestimating ND. There standards aren't head and shoulders above Michigan but I believe the floor is higher.

Everybody can get kids in. Standards are overblown.

[Popeye_Card]

Sure, there are plenty of reasons to still choose Notre Dame. Just as there are other reasons to choose Ohio State, or Florida, or Texas, etc.

All I am saying is that whatever Notre Dame does or does not have going in its favor, none of it is affected by joining the Big Ten. Academically (ironic that I probably spelled that wrong), the Big Ten is second only to the Ivy League. Football-wise, it is second probably only to the SEC, especially if Nebraska and Notre Dame join. Notre Dame really has nothing to lose except the "tradition" of being independent, which doesn't mean squat to how well they can recruit.

[vinsanity]

Notre Dame really has nothing to lose except the "tradition" of being independent, which doesn't mean squat to how well they can recruit.

Aye, here we agree.

[lukethedrifter]

I'm very anti Notre Dame and I think Popeye is underestimating ND. There standards aren't head and shoulders above Michigan but I believe the floor is higher.

Everybody can get kids in. Standards are overblown.

I'm not going to argue with you because I don't think Notre Dame only lets in choir boys and geniuses. That said, some schools have somewhat higher standards than other schools.

http://m.si.com/news/sp/wr_hs_sports/de ... nnsilive9i